Cabinet touch control

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method and an apparatus for controlling an electric device. The apparatus includes a cabinet defining a recess, and a sensor disposed within said recess for sensing the presence of a foreign object in close proximity to the sensor. A veneer at least partially conceals the sensor disposed within said recess from view when observed from an ambient environment of the cabinet. A controller is responsive to a signal transmitted by the sensor indicative of the presence of the foreign object adjacent to the sensor to transmit a control signal for controlling operation of the electric device operatively connected to communicate with the controller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application relates generally to capacitive sensors and, inparticular, to a cabinet, piece of furniture or other object includingan integrated capacitive sensor for controlling operation of an electricdevice.

2. Description of Related Art

Capacitive sensors are found in many devices and applications. Lightswitches, elevator buttons, computer touch-screens and controls onelectronic equipment are examples of a few common applications.Typically, the capacitive sensors are in plain view, clearly delineatedon the applicable device. For example, a wall switch with a touch pad,the appearance of buttons in an elevator, a touch-sensitive screenitself, and various indicia and/or discrete touch surfaces in otherequipment are exposed and readily viewed by individuals, even when suchsensors are not actively being used.

An exposed sensor can give objects an unsightly appearance for users toview.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Capacitive sensors are found in many devices and applications. Lightswitches, elevator buttons, computer touch-screens and controls onelectronic equipment are examples of a few common applications.Typically, the capacitive sensors are in plain view, clearly delineatedon the applicable device. For example, a wall switch with a touch pad,the appearance of buttons in an elevator, a touch-sensitive screenitself, and various indicia and/or discrete touch surfaces in otherequipment are exposed and readily viewed by individuals, even when suchsensors are not actively being used.

According to one aspect, the subject application involves a method formounting a capacitive sensor in a cabinet or piece of furniture, and acabinet or piece of furniture with such a capacitive sensor, and thecapacitive sensor itself. According to one aspect, the subjectapplication involves providing a capacitive sensor configured on asensor side of a printed circuit board; and fabricating a cavity in awall of said cabinet or piece of furniture, the cavity being configuredto receive the printed circuit board so that the capacitive sensor iscontained within the wall and is within 0.125 inches of a touchablesurface of the wall.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves anapparatus for controlling an electric device. The apparatus includes acabinet defining a recess, and a sensor disposed within said recess forsensing the presence of a foreign object in close proximity to thesensor. A veneer at least partially conceals the sensor disposed withinsaid recess from view when observed from an ambient environment of thecabinet. A controller is responsive to a signal transmitted by thesensor indicative of the presence of the foreign object adjacent to thesensor to transmit a control signal for controlling operation of theelectric device operatively connected to communicate with thecontroller.

According to another aspect, the sensor is a capacitive sensor thatsenses a capacitance change resulting from placement of the foreignobject in close proximity to the sensor.

According to another aspect, the cabinet is a portion of a piece offurniture, and the recess is formed in an arm rest portion of the pieceof furniture on which a user is to sit.

According to another aspect, the cabinet is a portion of a lamp, and therecess is formed in a base portion of the lamp.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide abasic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methodsdiscussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of thesystems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/ormethods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplifiedform as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentedlater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in thisspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a capacitive sensor embedded in a wallbefore application of a wall veneer according to an aspect of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of illustrative examples of capacitivesensor configurations;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a capacitive sensor according tostill another aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an edge mounted capacitive sensor anda portion of unbonded wall veneer according to an additional aspect ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative embodiment of a printed circuit boardincluding a sensor, a proximity sensor surrounding the sensor, and aplurality of light sources;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative embodiment of an overlay that is to coverthe printed circuit board shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment of a substantially-transparentprinted circuit board with underlying LED illumination sources; and

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative embodiment of an overlay that is to coverthe printed circuit board shown in

FIG. 7, the overlay comprising a plurality of window regions denotinglocations of a sensor representing numerical input regions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language usedherein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which likenumerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in thedrawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if usedherein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of themembers, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example,the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means inthe present application: the first widget, the second widget, or thefirst widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a firstwidget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the presentapplication: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, thefirst widget and the second widget, the first widget and the thirdwidget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget andthe second widget and the third widget.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a wall 10 of a cabinet or a piece offurniture has an upper surface 12 that includes a capacitive sensor 14countersunk into the surface 12 of the wall 10. The sensor 14 is flushwith the surface 12 and a veneer 16 (see FIG. 4) is then bonded to thesurface 12 as well as to the sensor 14. Bonding to the sensor 14 helpsprevent wrinkling or blistering of the veneer 16.

The wall 10 may be, for example, solid wood, wood fiber products orother non-metallic material suitable for construction of cabinets orfurniture. Similarly, the veneer 16 may be, for example, wood veneer,laminate or other non-metal material suitable for construction ofcabinets or furniture. The veneer 16 may be bonded to the wall 10 andthe sensor 14, for example, with adhesive, thermally, or ultrasonicallyas appropriate for the materials.

For satisfactory performance of the sensor 14, the thickness of theveneer 16 (e.g., the dimension normal to a major surface of the veneer16) can be limited to less than a threshold maximum for the sensitivityof the particular sensor. Thicknesses greater than the threshold maximumcan begin to interfere with the ability of the sensor 14 to detect thepresence of a user's hand, for example. For example, the thickness ofthe veneer 16 can be approximately 0.125 inches or less. Otherembodiments include a veneer that is approximately 0.010 inches or less.Typically, the thinner the veneer, the better is the performance of thesensor 14. A thickness of 0.025 inches can be suitable for certainapplications, and can optionally be any commercially available veneer 16thickness.

The veneer 16 can optionally have an externally-exposed surface 37 (FIG.3) with an appearance resembling wood or other material from which thecabinet 10 or furniture is made. Such embodiments of the veneer 16 canoptionally conceal the sensor 14 embedded in the cabinet 10 or furniturebeneath the veneer 16. Alternate embodiments of the veneer 16 caninclude an appearance with a visible indicator that is viewable whenobserving the externally-exposed surface 37, indicating a location wherethe cabinet 10 or furniture can be touched to control operation of anelectric device 39, described in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, examples 18, 20, 22 of the operable surface of thesensor 14 are shown (these examples are most suitable for the embodimentof FIG. 4 described below). In each of the examples 18, 20, 22, acapacitively coupleable pattern 24, 26, 28, respectively, is provided.The patterns 24, 26, 28 are formed on the top of a printed circuit board30, typically by etching. The printed circuit boards can advantageouslybe the same thickness as standard router bits (e.g., 1/16″ and 3/32″).The sensors are used, for example, to provide off/on, selection, andvariable “slider” functions for the operation of electrical equipmentsuch as lighting, stereos, computers and audio-visual equipment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom of the printed circuit board 30 includescircuitry 32 for the operation of the capacitive sensor 14 includingwiring 34 for connection to an electric device 39, such as a television,video receiver, lamp or other light fixture, an electrical deviceprovided to the cabinet 10 or furniture itself, etc . . . , controlledby touching the externally-exposed surface 37 of the veneer 16 above thesensor 14. The surface of the printed circuit board may be surfacetreated to resist the chemicals present in wood and adhesives.

A cavity for the sensor 14 in the wall 10 may be advantageouslyfabricated by routing out the shape and thickness of the printed circuitboard 30. The printed circuit board 30 may have rounded ends 38 thatmatch the smallest radius turns made by a router bit when routing outthe cavity. For example, the printed circuit board end radiuses, eitherhalf-round or quarter-round may match standard router bit and biscuitcutter diameters (e.g., ½″ and ¾″ diameter). By matching the router bitprofile, a snug fit can be obtained. A space 36 for the circuitry 32 andthe wires 34 can be bored in the wall 10. The circuitry 32 may bedesigned to specifically fit in the space 36.

An alternative method for fabricating a cavity for the sensor 14 is toroute the cavity in the wall 10 from the back of the wall 10. In thiscase, it is possible to eliminate the use of a separate veneer 16,leaving a monolithically formed wall and externally-exposed surface 37concealing the sensor 14 from view when observed from the ambientenvironment of the cabinet or furniture. Instead, the routing processsimply leaves the existing outwardly-exposed surface 37 of the wall 10in place above the sensor 14. For satisfactory performance of the sensor14, this remaining upper surface of the wall 10 should be 0.124 inchesin thickness or less. As before, the sensor 14 can be bonded to thesurface above it, particularly as the thickness may be as little as0.010 inches, or at least placed against the surface. The veneer 16, theremaining upper surface of the wall 10, or other wood overlay canoptionally be finished with an optional clear coat finish that is atleast partially adsorbed into the wood. Examples of such finishesinclude, but are not limited to a shellac, polyurethane, oil basedfinishes, etc . . . that can aid in the efficiency of light transmissionand/or touchpad sensitivity.

Referring to FIG. 4, an edge mount sensor 14′ is shown mounted at theedge of a wall 10. In this case, the sensor 14′ is provided with astraight side 40 that corresponds to the edge of the wall 10. Typically,this edge will be covered either with another veneer or the like, or bya joint with another wall of the cabinet or piece of furniture.

The printed circuit board 30 may be of flexible construction to allowuse where the surface above the sensor 14 is curved, such as incylindrical floor lamp posts.

The circuitry 32 (or controllers in an attached device) may perform avariety of functions, such as lamp intensity control. For example,on/off with a double tap, or change in intensity (0, 20, 40, 60, 80,100%) with single taps, or continuously variable (e.g., as a dimmerswitch) when a slider control is used. Special tap sequences can enablespecial modes, such as color change when driving a RGB LED lamp.

Alternate embodiments of the circuitry 32 or controller, etc . . . ,operatively connected to receive signals transmitted by the sensor 14can optionally be programmable or otherwise compatible with a pluralityof different electric devices 39, which can be connected to communicatewith the circuitry 32 via a hardwired communication channel 34 or awireless communication channel (e.g., infrared, RF, short-range wirelesscommunication protocol such as that referred to by the trade nameBluetooth™, 802.1x standards maintained by IEEE, etc . . . ). Accordingto such embodiments, the circuitry 32 can be operable to transmit asignal that can change a television channel, adjust the volume of atelevision, etc . . . If the television is ever replaced, the circuitrycan be synced with, or otherwise rendered compatible with the newtelevision in a manner analogous to a so-called universal remotecontrol.

According to alternate embodiments, the electric device 39 can be anadapter that cooperates with an existing electric device 39, therebyallowing the circuitry 32 to be retrofit (e.g., used with existingelectric devices 39 such as lamps, for example) that may not beotherwise adapted to communicate with the circuitry 32. For example, theelectric device 39 in the form of an adaptor can be plugged into aconventional AC electric wall outlet commonly found in residentialdwellings. A lamp with a dimmable bulb can be plugged into the adaptor.The circuitry 32 can communicate with the adaptor to control operationof the lamp (e.g., on/off, intensity settings, etc . . . ) via awireless communication channel, or via the wired communication channel34. For wireless embodiments, a battery or other stored energy devicecan optionally be embedded out of view in the cabinet 10 or furniture tosupply electric energy to the circuitry 32 to facilitate operation ofthe sensor 14 and the circuitry 32, including any optional wirelesstransmitter or other transmission circuit for transmitting signals overthe hardwired communication channel 34. According to alternateembodiments, the hardwired communication channel 34 can include a powercable plugged into the conventional AC electric wall outlet. Thecircuitry 32 of such embodiments can optionally be adapted to transmitcontrol signals to the adaptor through the wiring in the residentialdwelling that conducts electric power to the AC electric wall outlets.

The location and/or patterns 24, 26, 28 (FIG. 2) of the operable surfaceof the sensor 14 can optionally be denoted and made visible when theoutwardly-exposed surface of the veneer 16 or existing surface of thewall 10 is viewed. For example, a plurality of different, contrastingveneers 16 can be adhered to the flush surface collectively formed bythe wall 10 and the sensor 14. According to alternate embodiments,inlays, decorative overlays, carvings in the veneer 16 or existing woodsurface of the wall 10 concealing the sensor 14, any other suitablemethod of identifying the location of the concealed sensor 14, or anycombination thereof, can be utilized to indicate the presence of atouch-sensitive region. For example, the location and/or pattern of thesensor(s) 14 may be denoted based on the geometry and/or physicalconfiguration of the collective furniture object including the embeddedsensor 14. As an alternative to having markings visible when the surfaceof the wood veneer 16 or existing wood surface of the wall 10 concealingthe sensor 14, a proximity sensor 50 (FIG. 5) can optionally be arrangedto detect the presence of the user's hand when placed adjacent to thesensor 14 to input an adjustment of the electric device beingcontrolled.

Unlike conventional touch-sensitive lamps, for example, which allowusers to input commands to turn the lamp on/off by touching any locationon the exposed metal surface of the lamp's base, the present technologylimits the region that is touch sensitive to the regions adjacent to thesensor 14. This touch sensitive region has a perimeter in a major planethat is at least partially, and optionally substantially or entirelysurrounded by a non-touch-sensitive region of the cabinet or furniture,formed from a non-electrically-conductive material.

An illustrative embodiment of such a proximity sensor 50 is shown inFIG. 5. A high sensitivity, low accuracy, touch sensor includes aplurality of separate touch pads 52 arranged to at least partially, andoptionally substantially surround the sensor 14, which is formed from aplurality of sensor segments in FIG. 5. Each of the touch pads 52 can beoperatively connected to the printed circuit board 30 to transmit asignal to a controller in response to a user's hand being placed withina close proximity (e.g. within one (1″) inch) thereof. Although shown asa plurality of touch pads 52, alternate embodiments of the proximitysensor 50 can include a single touch pad with a void in which the sensor14 can be arranged. However, for the sake of brevity, the proximitysensor in FIG. 5 is shown and described as being formed from a pluralityof separate touch pads 52 that are collectively operable to detect thepresence of the user's hand adjacent to the sensor 14, even if theuser's hand is not centered above the sensor 14. And regardless of theconfiguration of the proximity sensor 50, the proximity sensor 50provides operable coverage over a greater area than the sensor 14 todetect the user's hand even when not centered directly over the sensor14.

In response to detecting the user's hand in close proximity to thesensor 14, a microprocessor executing computer-executable instructionsstored by a non-transitory computer memory, an application-specificintegrated circuit, etc . . . provided to the circuitry 32 or controllerthat received the signal(s) from the proximity sensor 50 can transmit asignal that illuminates the surface by activating buried LEDs 54, lampsor other indicators located adjacent to the sensor 14, optionallyconnected to the printed circuit board 30, to frame or otherwiseindicate the location and/or pattern of the sensor 14. For theillustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a LED 54 is arranged on theprinted circuit board 30 adjacent to each longitudinal end of the sensor14, thereby denoting the ends of the sensor 14 when theexternally-exposed surface of the veneer 16, existing wood of the wall10 or other overlay concealing the sensor 14 is viewed from a vantagepoint external of the veneer of the cabinet or furniture.

FIG. 6 is a view of an underside of an illustrative example of a veneer16 that is to be applied over the surface of the wall 10 flush with thesensor 14 shown in FIG. 5, with window regions 56 described belowarranged over the LEDs 54. The veneer 16 of FIG. 6 can selectivelytransmit light from the LED 54 or other light source provided to theprinted circuit board 30 to denote the location, and optionally thepattern, of the sensor 14. Although described as a veneer 16, theoverlay concealing the sensor 14 from view when installed can be theexisting wood of the wall 10 remaining following routing from beneathdescribed above, a plastic or other non-metal substance, or any otherobject that is to conceal the sensor 14. As shown, the veneer 16includes windows 56 as regions of reduced thickness (i.e., the dimensionperpendicular to—or extending into and out of—the major plane of thedrawing sheet) relative to the thickness of surrounding portions of theveneer 16. For example, a window region 56 that is to be arranged overthe LED 54 in FIG. 5 when the veneer 16 is installed can have a materialthickness that is less than the material thickness of a surrounding,light-impeding region 58 that is to be offset relative to the LED 54.Light emitted by the LED 54 (FIG. 5) in response to the detection, bythe proximity sensor 50 (FIG. 5), of the user's hand in close proximityto the sensor 14 is observable through the window region 56, butsubstantially blocked by the light-impeding region 58.

In addition to, or in lieu of the window region 56, the veneer 16 inFIG. 6 can include a frame region 60 that at least partially, andoptionally fully surrounds a light-impeding region 62 that is shaped andsized to be arranged over the sensor 14 shown in FIG. 5. The frameregion 60 includes a channel of reduced material thickness relative tothe material thickness of the light-impeding regions 58 and 62. Thus, inresponse to detection of the user's hand in close proximity to thesensor 14, light from the LEDs 54 in FIG. 5, and/or additional LEDs (notshown) or other illumination devices, is transmitted more readilythrough the frame region 60 than through the light-impeding regions 58and 62. The result is the temporary illumination of a frame surroundingthe sensor 14 (FIG. 5) concealed by the veneer 16 (FIG. 6). The extentto which the material thickness of the window and/or frame regions 56,60 must be reduced relative to the light-impeding regions 58, 62 can bedependent on the species of wood used for the veneer 16.

Although the window and frame regions 56, 60 are described in detail, itis understood that any desired pattern, shapes, etc . . . can be createdin this manner to provide an externally-visible display helpful to theuser input a command via the sensor 14 or convey other information tothe user. For example, rather than utilizing different materialthicknesses to create the externally-visible display, other embodimentscan include a mask layer and/or ink that create a stencil through whichlight from the LED 54 or other light source can shine. Other embodimentscan include, an arrangement including a pattern of separate LEDs, or oneor more LEDs molded or otherwise formed in a specific shapecorresponding to the desired pattern to be illuminated in response totransmission of the signal from the proximity sensor 50. Yet otherembodiments can include a fiber-optic light conductor arranged in theform of the desired pattern to conduct and emit light from a LED orother light source.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of a sensor 14 that can bemanipulated by the user to input a numerical selection, for example.Again, the sensor 14 can be substantially surrounded by the proximitysensor 50 to detect the presence of the user's hand adjacent to thesensor 14. One, or a plurality of LEDs 54 are bottom mounted beneath aportion of the printed circuit board 30, separated from the sensor 14surface by the printed surface board 30. For such embodiments, at leasta portion (optionally less than all), or optionally all of the printedcircuit board 30 can be formed from an un-dyed material, that issubstantially transparent (e.g., translucent). The transparency of thematerial forming the printed circuit board 30 allows light emitted bythe underlying LEDs 54 to be transmitted through the printed circuitboard 30, thereby illuminating the sensor 14 from below. According toalternate embodiments, the window regions 56 can optionally be formed inthe shape of numbers, characters, symbols, etc . . . , and thesurrounding areas formed as the light-impeding materials.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of a veneer 16 or other overlay according tosuch an embodiment, comprising a plurality of window regions 56, eacharranged in an array resembling a number pad such as that provided on acomputer keyboard, remote control, telephone, etc . . . Similar to theprevious embodiment, the window regions 56 can have a reduced materialthickness, can be formed from a substantially-transparent material, orotherwise allow the transmission of light from the LEDs 54 such that thewindow regions 56 are visible to the user when the LEDs 54 areilluminated. Each window region 56 can optionally include a character 64such as a letter, number, symbol, etc . . . formed from a light-impedingmaterial. Thus, when the window regions 56 are illuminated when theveneer is concealing the sensor 14, the character 56 represented by eachportion of the sensor 14 corresponding to the respective character canbe observed.

Regardless of the structure and configuration of the devices used todenote the location, and optionally the pattern of one, or a pluralityof, sensors 14, the light source illuminated in response to the signaltransmitted by the proximity sensor 50 can be turned off after havingbeen activated for a predetermined period of time. For example, thecircuitry 32 can optionally include a timer that causes the light sourceto be illuminated for 10 seconds after the user's hand is no longer inclose proximity to the sensor(s) 14 before being automatically turnedoff. Thus, the system can illuminate the display when desired andconserve energy when not in use, regardless of whether electric energyis supplied by battery or from an electric outlet operatively connectedto an electric utility.

It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and thatvarious changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating detailswithout departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in thisdisclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular detailsof this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims arenecessarily so limited.

Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methodsmay incorporate changes and modifications without departing from thegeneral scope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for controlling an electric device,the apparatus comprising: a cabinet defining a recess; a sensor disposedwithin said recess for sensing the presence of a foreign object in closeproximity to the sensor; a veneer at least partially concealing thesensor disposed within said recess from view when observed from anambient environment of the cabinet; and a controller that is responsiveto a signal transmitted by the sensor indicative of the presence of theforeign object adjacent to the sensor to transmit a control signal forcontrolling operation of the electric device operatively connected tocommunicate with the controller.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe sensor is a capacitive sensor that senses a capacitance changeresulting from placement of the foreign object in close proximity to thesensor.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is a portion ofa piece of furniture.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the recess isformed in an arm rest portion of the piece of furniture on which a useris to sit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the recess is formed ina base portion of a lamp.